Wire-stretcher.



No. 890,174. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

. W. P. RICHARDS.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18, 1907.

THE naRRI: FETIRS ca, wnsnmcrarv, n. c.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application filed March 18, 1907. Serial No. 362,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILUAM: F. Bion- ARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bussey, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful ire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of wire stretchers in which a chain or rope provided with a wire gripper is wound upon a windlass.

Hy object is to provide a Windlass of simple, durable and inexpensive construction provided with means whereby it may be quickly and easily attached to a fence post and detached therefrom and when attached be supported in a horizontal position ready for use.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind that may be folded into a compact form to occupy a minimum of space.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the complete wire stretcher embodying my invention and attached to a post, and Fig. 2 shows an enlarged perspective view of one of the frame supporting arms.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the side pieces of the frame. These side pieces are connected at one end by the end piece 11 which is formed with an oval slot 12. At the other end the side pieces are connected by a bolt or rivet 1.3 which has a chain 14 attached to it and the wire gripping device 15 is attached to the lower end of the chain. Rotatably mounted within the frame 1.0 is awindlass shaft 16 having a crank 17 at one end and a ratchet wheel 18 at its other end. Apawl19 is provided for engagement with the ratchet wheel. Fixed to and wound upon the Windlass shaft is a chain 20 to which a wire gripping device is attached.

There are two frame supporting arms, each of which comprises a body portion 22 having a forked end 23, each end of the fork being provided with a loop 24, said loops are designed to hook into the openings formed in the sides 10 of the frame adjacent to the bolt or rivet 1.3, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. On

the other end of each frame supporting arm is a pointed projection 25 designed to be driven into a post for the purpose of supporting the wire stretcher upon the post. Formed on top of the arm adjacent to the projection 25 is a lug 26 upon which the operator may strike with a hammer for the purpose of driving the projection. 25 away from the post.

In practice l use and assuming that it is desired to stretch wire, I first connect the frame supporting arms with. the frame and then place the pointed projection 25 of one arm adjacent to the post toward which the wire is to be stretched and I then strike upon it with a hammer and drive it firmly into the post. I then connect the other supporting device with the opposite side of the post in the same manner. This serves to support the wire stretching frame in a substantially horizontal position. Then the operator connects the wire gripping device 21 with the wire to be stretched and then winds up the Windlass 16 by means of the crank 17. The weight of the wire supporting frame need be supported upon the arms 22 prior to the time that the wire is stretched tight as the wire itself serves to hold the frame as soon as there is any considerable tension brought upon the wire. As soon as the wire is stretched, it is secured in position by staples or otherwise and then the operator strikes upon the lugs 26 to thereby loosen the arms from the post. By having the chain 20 pass through an oval slot 12 in the end of the frame, the shape of the slot serves to keep the chain to fit evenly and uniformly upon the Windlass shaft. Furthermore in the event that the wire should break, the closed end 11 of the wire stretching frame will serve to receive the impact of the chain and the wire that may be connected with it and thus prevent injury to the operator having hold of the crank. If it is desired to splice wire the supporting arms are detached from the frame and the wire gripper 15 is connected to one end of the wire and the wire gripper 21 connected to the other end and then the Windlass operated to bring the ends toward each other. In shipping and packing, the supporting arms may be placed parallel with the frame and the whole device contained within a comparatively small space.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor is 1. In a wire stretcher having a frame and hooked arms for engaging a post, a pointed 'tion on the free end of each supporting arm projection on each of said arms adapted to extended in a direction toward the frame and be driven firmly into the post to hold the dea lug at the top of each arm near the pointed vice in operative position, and lugs on said projection for driving the pointed projection 1:- 5 arms adapted to be struck to disengage the away from a post.

device from the post. Des Moines, Iowa, February 19, 1907.

2. In a wire stretcher havin a frame composed of two sides and two fra ine supporting WILLIAM RICHARDS arms, each having a forked end with loops on Witnesses: 10 the forks detaohably connected with the ad- J. A. BUSSEY,

jacent sides of the frame, a pointed projec- W. A. AMsBERRY. 

